Preliminary investigation into the use of Pleurotus tuber-regium powder as a tablet disintegrant

Some physical characteristics of the powder obtained from the mycelia of a giant edible mushroom, Pleurotus tuber-regium, has been determined. Its disintegrant ability in comparison with maize starch BP was also investigated in paracetamol tablets prepared via the wet granulation method. The results obtained showed that P. tuber-regium and maize starch BP have similar true, bulk and tapped density values. The Pleurotus powder however, showed superior flow, swelling capacity as well as water retention capacity to maize starch BP. The swelling capacity was three times that of maize starch BP Tablets prepared with P. tuber-regium powder disintegrated faster than those prepared with maize starch BP at concentrations below 10% w/w. At the disintegrant concentration of 10% w/w paracetamol tablets made from both Pleurotus powder and maize starch BP had similar disintegration times and dissolution profiles. It is believed that the ability of Pleurotus powder to swell by over three times its volume in the presence of water may explain its disintegrant ability. Pleurotus tuber-regium powder may therefore be used as an alternative to maize starch BP as a disintegrant in tableting. Key words: Pleurotus tuber-regium, physical characteristics, paracetamol Trop J Pharm Res, June 2002; 1(1): 29-3

Microbial contamination and preservative capacity of some brands of cosmetic creams

Purpose: Cosmetic and topical products need not be sterile but may contain low levels of microbial load during use. This study was conducted to determine and compare the level and type of microbial contaminants in commercial cosmetic products sold in the market and a laboratory prepared aqueous cream and their preservative capacities while in use. Methods: Ten brands of commercially available cosmetic creams and lotions were randomly purchased from the open markets in Benin City. Aqueous Cream was also prepared. Their bacterial and fungal loads as well as types were evaluated. Preservative capacity was evaluated by challenging the creams and lotions with washed and characterized isolates of Staph. aureus and viable counting was performed by the surface viable method. The prepared aqueous cream was similarly challenged with the test organism. Results: All the products were contaminated to varying degrees. Staphylococci and other gram-positive cocci were the most preponderant; gram-negative isolates were hardly found. Fungal contaminants consisted largely of Asp. fumigatus, Penicillium and Microsporium species. Challenge test (re-infection) with Staph. aureus revealed the commercial products as having low capacity for suppressing bacterial proliferation such as may be encountered during in – use contamination. Conclusion: Commercial cosmetic creams and lotions evaluated did not generally meet the standards for microbial limits as specified in official monographs. Such products can adversely affect health status of consumers as well as the stability profiles of the products. Key words: Commercial products; cosmetic creams; cosmetic lotions; microbial contamination Trop J Pharm Res, December 2003; 2(2): 229-23

Adsorptive property of kaolin in some drug formulations

Purpose: Kaolin is a known adsorbent, has lubricant property in powders and is therefore proposed as a lubricant in tablet formulations. This study was carried out to evaluate whether kaolin can adsorb some active drugs when mixed with them in tablet formulations even at very low concentrations. Method: Chloroquine and chlorpheniramine tablets were formulated with powder mixtures containing various concentrations of kaolin. The effect of kaolin on the physical properties of the tablets were examined and compared with those of standard lubricants like magnesium stearate and talc. Chloroquine and chlorpheniramine tablets and powders of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid oral powder and ampicillin/cloxacillin injection were also mixed with and without various concentrations of kaolin in water. Chemical assay of the drugs in the solutions were determined over time. Results: Kaolin significantly reduced the amount of each of the drugs in the solutions containing kaolin. Conclusion: Kaolin reduces the amount of some drugs when incorporated in drug formulations. Therefore, its inclusion in such drug formulations should not be encouraged. Keywords: Adsorption, ampicillin/cloxacillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, chloroquine, chlorpheniramine, drug formulation, kaolin. Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research 2003; 2(1): 155-15

Evaluation of LD 50 of Cashew Gum and the Comparative Study of its Functionality in Cotrimoxazole Granule and Tablet Formulations

Abstract: This study evaluated the level of contamination of cashew gum, its acute toxicity in rabbits and its functionality in cotrimoxazole granule and tablet formulations in comparison to three standard binders (polyvinylpyrrolidone, gelatin and corn starch BP). The level of contamination was determine using physical and microbiological tests, while the acute toxicity was studied using Lorke's method and the granules were formulated via wet granulation and characterized micromeritically. Subsequently, the granules were compacted using a force of 15 KN and the resulting tablets subjected to all the compendial and non-compendial quality control tests. The results indicated that the contaminants in cashew gum were safe and within acceptable levels and the gum was not toxic in rabbits even at the dose of 5000 mg/kg. Granules formulated with cashew gum exhibited the best micromeritic properties, in comparison to the standards between 2 and 4% w/w binder concentrations, respectively. Furthermore, all the formulated tablets, except those formulated with gelatin at 4 and 5% w/w met the compendial and noncompendial requirements for good quality conventional tablets. In all the tests conducted, there were no significant differences between the properties of granules and tablets formulated with cashew gum or polyvinylpyrrolidone (p>0.05). Finally, since cashew gum possessed very low level of inorganic and microbial contaminants and is nontoxic, it may be economically worthy to exploit it for pharmaceutical purposes

Research Article - Preliminary investigation into the use of Pleurotus tuber-regium powder as a tablet disintegrant

Purpose: This investigation aims at developing a pharmaceutical excipient from local sources. Pleurotus tuber-regium powder is used locally as a soup thickener because of its ability to swell in water and add bulk to the soup. Since swelling is one of the mechanisms of action of some tablet disintegrants it was thought that the powder of P. tuber regium would be able to act as a tablet disintegrant. Method: The powder obtained from the mycelia of the edible giant mushroom, Pleurotus tuberregium was characterised. Its disintegrant ability in comparison with maize starch BP was investigated in paracetamol tablets prepared via the wet granulation method. Results: P. tuber-regium and maize starch BP have similar true, bulk and tapped density values. The Pleurotus powder, however, showed superior flow, swelling capacity as well as waterretention capacity to maize starch BP. The swelling capacity was three times that of maize starch BP. Tablets prepared with P. tuber-regium powder disintegrated faster than those prepared with maize starch BP at concentrations below 10% w/w. At the disintegrant concentration of 10% w/w paracetamol tablets made from both Pleurotus powder and maize starch BP had similar disintegration times and dissolution profiles. It is believed that the ability ofPleurotus powder to swell by over three times its volume in the presence of water may explain its ability to function as a tablet disintegrant. Conclusion: Pleurotus tuber-regium powder may therefore be used as an alternative to maize starch BP as a tablet disintegrant

Research Article - Microbial contamination and preservative capacity of some brands of cosmetic creams

Purpose: Cosmetic and topical products need not be sterile but may contain low levels of microbial load during use. This study was conducted to determine and compare the level and type of microbial contaminants in commercial cosmetic products sold in the market and a laboratory prepared aqueous cream and their preservative capacities while in use. Methods: Ten brands of commercially available cosmetic creams and lotions were randomly purchased from the open markets in Benin City. Aqueous Cream was also prepared. Their bacterial and fungal loads as well as types were evaluated. Preservative capacity was evaluated by challenging the creams and lotions with washed and characterized isolates of Staph. aureus and viable counting was performed by the surface viable method. The prepared aqueous cream was similarly challenged with the test organism. Results: All the products were contaminated to varying degrees. Staphylococci and other gram-positive cocci were the most preponderant; gram-negative isolates were hardly found. Fungal contaminants consisted largely of Asp. fumigatus, Penicillium and Microsporium species. Challenge test (re-infection) with Staph. aureus revealed the commercial products as having low capacity for suppressing bacterial proliferation such as may be encountered during in –use contamination. Conclusion: Commercial cosmetic creams and lotions evaluated did not generally meet the standards for microbial limits as specified in official monographs. Such products can adversely affect health status of consumers as well as the stability profiles of the products

Micromeritic and compation characterization of Lacapregs: a group of novel multifunctional excipients

In the study, Lacagpregs, a multifunctional excipient series containing lactose, cashew gum and partially pregelatinized starch, were subjected to micromeritic and compaction characterization to identify the most suitable product for tablet formulation. Sieve analysis, fluid displacement, tapping experiment, Heckel analysis and lubricant sensitivity tests were carried out using standard protocols. Excipients’ particle diameters ranged from 232 μm – 320 μm with corresponding median particle diameters of 210 μm and 330 μm. The span ranged from 1.43 – 2.45, an indication of wide particle size distributions. Particle densities of excipients ranged from 1.497 g/ml to 1.503 g/ml without any significant difference. Excipients’ angle of repose ranged from 31.53o – 36.03o, Carr’s index ranged from 17.50% – 24.14%, Hausner’s ratio ranged from 1.21 – 1.32, all indicative of intermediate flow characteristics. Among the excipients, products from longer processing times displayed higher plastic deformation at constant binder concentration. The differences between the yield pressures of the excipients were significant (p < 0.05). The plastic excipients were more lubricant sensitive than the brittle ones. In conclusion, excipients containing cashew gum at 5% and processed with intermediate agitation for a duration of 30-60 min may be the best choice for drug powders with poor compactibility characteristics.Keywords: Lacagpregs, Multifunctional excipient, Micromeritics, CompactibilityJournal of Pharmaceutical and Allied Sciences, Vol. 10 No. 3 (2013